The photo legend from left to right standing: Kentucky State Senator Gerald Neal, Kentucky State Representative George Brown, Jr., right Side standing: Ohio State Representative Terrence Upchurch, former Kentucky State Representative Mike Denham. Seated left to right: Carol Stivers, President of the John P. Parker Historical Society, Charles Blatcher, III, chair of the NCOBV, former Judge/Executive James L. Gallenstein and Ronald C. Todd, II, representing Governor Mike DeWine.
Coalition of Black Veterans join Ohio in unveiling the Brigadier General Charles Young Memorial Historical Corridor signage in a joint State Ceremony with Kentucky…….
On October 25, 2024, the Brigadier General Charles Young Memorial Historical Corridor signage was unveiled in Ripley, Ohio. The unveiling marked the completion of the 170-mile corridor route running from Nicholasville, Kentucky to Wilberforce, Ohio. The City of Ripley is where Charles Young lived his formative years before attending the Military Academy at West Point in 1884. The city picks up the corridor from the Kentucky side of the border. The unveiling ceremony was attended by elected officials and residents from both States. The John P. Parker Historical Society served as the host for the event. The society’s welcome was delivered by its President Carol Stivers, a longtime advocate for the preservation of History in the area.
In a speech delivered to the gathering the Coalition called on President Joseph Biden to use the Presidential Antiquities Act to annex the General’s birth cabin into the National Park Service before leaving office in January 2025. The cabin is an especially key component to the future planning of activities on the corridor. The cabin sits at the midpoint in the 170-mile corridor. It is the last location leaving the Kentucky side of the corridor or the first entrance from Ohio side. It took fourth-four years to get the Colonel promoted. It took President Biden responding to the appeal from Governor Andy Beshear on our behalf to get the promotion done. We appreciate what he did in federalizing the state promotion. The appreciation will not be diminished in the least if the appeal is denied. His contribution is written in ink, not pencil. However, we would like to have a sense of assurance as a Coalition that the cabin is protected as a historical treasure. Brigadier General Charles Young was a worldly person who resided in various places; however, he was only born in one log cabin located in Mays Lick, Kentucky. The President could provide the assurance of its preservation to the benefit of scholars, the county, state, and region in planning activities on or around the property. All involved would like to see the property annexed as an appendage to one of the National Monuments in the area. The presidential action we are seeking would guarantee its preservation into perpetuity.
The Coalition announced that preliminary work has begun to organize what we would like to see become an annual Brigadier General Charles Young Corridor Blues Festival alternating between the two States. Among Charles Young’s talents, he had a passion for music. He was a musician/composer who played the piano and absolutely loved music. It is said that Young possessed the only piano in the nation of Liberia at the time of his service in country in 1912. The idea behind the festival is a tribute to his interest and love of music. The Blues is an expression of love, pain and hardship that found its way from the South with the migration of Black Americans from the cotton belt. There are distinctive styles of the Blues, and we plan to include a mixture of the styles for the venues; there is West Coast Blues, Chicago and Detroit Blues, New York Blues, Delta, Texas, Atlanta and let us not forget New Orleans and Memphis Blues. The West Coast Blues Society and the Atlanta Blues Society are engaged with us in the planning. Presenting the Blues from the banks of the river that once separated bondage from freedom would be a powerful location for the presentation. The river was as wide as the ocean during that period in American History. The annual event proceeds would be used to support and promote activities on the corridor. Members of both Ohio and Kentucky signed on to assist in the planning. Venues have been discussed and offered, however that is still an open question along with a date, however, stay tuned.
We also announced the beginning of the Branding Campaign for the Corridor. A media blast sponsored by the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet was released to an audience of a million select people in the national community. The purpose of the blast is to introduce the corridor to a boarder segment of the public. We will use the data collected to evaluate the substance and delivery of promotional outreach. Connected to the invitation are access buttons to view the Regional Black History Tour Guide and another to sign our electronic petition calling for a statue of the General on the grounds of the National African American Museum in Washington, DC.
The events of the day were a success, from the weather to the level of public receptivity. We extend our appreciation to Governor Andy Beshear and Governor Mike DeWine for signing the Bills that made the ceremony possible.Senator Gerald Neal and Representative George Brown represented Kentucky. Ohio was represented by Legislator Terrence Upchurch, and Ronald C. Todd, II, Chief of Social Impact and Opportunity External Operations. In attendance representing the Young Family was Denese Johnson, Dennis, and Sherry Russell. The cabin committee was represented by its chairperson James L. Gallenstein, former Kentucky Representative Mike Denham, Reverend L. Rodney Bennett, and Retired Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Cordingly. We also acknowledge representatives from both states prominent Black History Museums, the Cincinnati Underground Railroad, and the Kentucky Center for African American Heritage for their participation. The Underground Railroad was represented by Novella Nimmo-Black, Manager of Community Engagement and Special Projects and Aukram Burton. executive director of the Louisville Kentucky Heritage Center.
We hope to see you on the Corridor.
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Contact information: cnmmmf@aol.co
